Chapter 30 –
The sound came again — closer this time. Not the random snap of a branch, but the deliberate tread of someone moving through the trees.
Jace's body went rigid beneath me. In one smooth motion, he pulled his shirt back on, grabbed his knife, and pressed a finger to his lips.
I sat up, heart hammering, straining to hear past the pounding in my ears.
Another step. Then another.
Jace was already moving toward the door when Kael burst inside, eyes blazing."They've surrounded us. Move. Now."
The cabin erupted in motion. Ethan hauled Lena to her feet. My dad was still groggy, but my mom gripped his arm and pulled him toward the back exit. Kael had his gun drawn, scanning every shadow like they might lunge at us.
Outside, the night was alive with the rustle of undergrowth and the distant glow of search lights weaving through the trees.
"Split into pairs," Kael ordered. "Meet at the river crossing."
Jace grabbed my hand without hesitation. "You're with me."
We ran. Branches whipped against my arms, leaves tearing at my clothes. Behind us, a sharp burst of gunfire split the night. My stomach clenched — someone was too close.
"They've cut off the main trail," Jace said between breaths. "We'll take the ridge."
We scrambled up a steep slope, the ground loose and sliding beneath our feet. My legs screamed in protest, but Jace's grip kept me moving.
Halfway up, a shadow moved in our path — tall, armed, and aiming straight at us.
Jace didn't hesitate. He lunged, slamming into the figure and sending both of them crashing into the dirt. The gun skittered away, but the man recovered fast, landing a blow that made Jace grunt in pain.
I grabbed a fallen branch and swung as hard as I could. It cracked against the attacker's shoulder, and he staggered. Jace finished it with a punch that sent him down for good.
"Nice hit," he said, breathless but grinning, before pulling me into motion again.
The ridge flattened out, and through the trees, I saw it — the silver shimmer of the river under the moonlight.
We were almost there.
Almost.
Because between us and the water, a line of Dominion soldiers was waiting.